CHICAGO (WLS) — Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan was sentenced Friday to seven and a half years in federal prison and a $2.5 million fine in his corruption case.
The hearing lasted hours, starting around 1 p.m. at the Dirksen Federal Building. The sentence came down about 4:30 p.m.
Though it’s unclear where he’ll serve time, Madigan was ordered to report to prison October 13, almost a year to the day jury selection in his trial began.
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Judge John Robert Blakey spent hours Friday discussing his reasoning for the sentence and enhancements on bribery, conspiracy and wire fraud charges.
“Judge Blakey is sending a very powerful message, not only to Speaker Madigan, but to the entire political establishment here in Illinois. Don’t engage in corruption,” said Chris Hotaling, former federal prosecutor.
The judge also touched on the ComEd Four conspiracy case and whether Madigan perjured himself, when he took the stand. Blakey said he believed he did.
Madigan was convicted in February of bribery conspiracy and other corruption counts, including the scheme with ComEd that enriched his allies in exchange for favorable legislation.
“We saw the public get a corruption tax for years and years, and we’re still paying that tax, frankly, when you look at the legislation that was passed,” said David Greising, President of the Better Government Association.
Legal experts told the I-Team Madigan’s testimony was the only way he could potentially secure an acquittal. That testimony backfiring spectacularly. The judge determined he lied numerous times, saying his testimony was a nauseating display and hard to watch.
“I think Judge Blakey was truly irritated with the Speaker’s testimony when he testified during the trial,” said Pat Brady, former Illinois Republican Party Chair. “Point blank said ‘you lied,’ and I think that cost him more time in jail than he wouldn’t gotten otherwise.”
The judge said every no-work job Madigan procured was a separate instance of bribery. He said Madigan, the longest-serving Illinois House speaker in state history, would have three years of supervised probation after release, as well.
Blakey said the sentence is just, and seasoned with mercy, taking his age and public service into account.
“Federal judges do this every six months with a public official in Illinois,” said Jim Durkin, former Illinois House GOP Leader. “When are they going to learn their lesson? You can’t cross the line. People demand honest government.”
Madigan spoke in court ahead of the sentencing.
Madigan was not emotional during his sentencing.
He thanked the judge, and said, “I am truly sorry for putting the people of Illinois through this. I tried to do my best to serve the people of Illinois. I’m not perfect.”
Madigan said he was proud to be a lawmaker and proud to be a husband and father.
He asked to spend his final days with his family.
Madigan was not very emotional during the sentencing. He did hug his son, Andrew, who was sitting in the courtroom. He also hugged his two daughters.
He was seen speaking with his lawyers, as well.
When walking out of court Friday evening, Madigan appeared to say “nice to know you” to the press, but nothing else.
Mike Madigan did not say much walking out of court Friday.
Madigan is due in prison at 2 p.m. Oct. 13.
In February, Madigan was found guilty on 10 counts in a partial verdict after a nearly four-month-long trial.
The bribery charges accused him of using his position as one of the most powerful people in Illinois to enrich himself and others.
Earlier this week, a judge denied the speaker’s request for a new trial.
Federal prosecutors asked the judge to sentence the 83-year-old to more than 12.5 years in prison and a $1.5 million fine.
Legal and political experts weighed in on Madigan’s sentence Friday.
The government did not hold a victory news conference given the monumental verdict and sentence.
“Corruption at the highest level of the state legislature tears at the fabric of a vital governing body,” U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros said in a statement. “It was the grit and determination of our team of prosecutors and law enforcement agents, led by our former colleague, Amarjeet S. Bhachu, who served as the Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Public Corruption and Organized Crime Section until earlier this year, that allowed this case to reach a jury and send a clear message that the criminal conduct by former Speaker Madigan was unacceptable. I couldn’t be prouder of the strong commitment of our law enforcement partners at the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation. Our Office and our partners remain steadfast in our commitment to vigorously prosecute corruption at all levels of government and hold public officials accountable for violating the public trust.”
Madigan’s attorneys asked for just five years of probation.
“Mr. Madigan was elected to serve the people of Illinois, but his actions demonstrated time and time again that his priority was his own personal interests and gain,” FBI Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office Douglas DePodesta said. “Thanks to the dedicated investigative and prosecutorial teams, he will now be held accountable for those criminal actions. The FBI remains dedicated to aggressively investigating corruption and fraud to ensure that the public has faith in our democratic institutions and elected leaders who are truly honest and fair.”
Well over 100 people, including White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, wrote letters in Madigan’s defense in hopes to ease the sentence.
“Today’s sentencing marks a pivotal moment in our commitment to uphold the integrity of public service,” said Ramsey E. Covington, special agent-in-charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago. “Through meticulously tracing the flow of illicit funds tied to legislative influence and noshow jobs, our team has demonstrated that no individual-regardless of stature or tenure-is beyond the reach of the law. Holding Michael J. Madigan accountable today reinforces the core principle that public trust is sacred, and those who betray it will be brought to justice.”
Guidelines would have allowed Blakey to sentence Madigan to 105 years based on Blakey’s legal analysis of the crimes he was convicted of.
This is a vast fall from being perhaps the single-most powerful politician in Illinois, with a vice-like grip on legislation in Springfield, as the decades-long speaker of the Illinois House.
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